S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8119--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  PARKER,  KAVANAGH,  MAY -- read twice and ordered
   printed, and when printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Local
   Government -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the general municipal law, in relation to enacting the
   "community solar opportunity  and  local  approval  reform  (Community
   SOLAR) act"
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the  "community  solar  opportunity and local approval reform (Community
 SOLAR) act".
   § 2. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new  section  79
 to read as follows:
   § 79. COMMUNITY SOLAR OPPORTUNITY AND LOCAL APPROVAL REFORM (COMMUNITY
 SOLAR) ACT. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   (A) "DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY" MEANS ANY SOLAR PHOTOVOL-
 TAIC  SYSTEM  OR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH A NAMEPLATE CAPACITY OF FIVE
 THOUSAND KILOWATTS AC OR LESS;
   (B) "FACILITY OWNER" MEANS (I) A PERSON OR  CORPORATE  ENTITY  WITH  A
 DIRECT  OWNERSHIP  INTEREST IN A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY,
 REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PERSON IS INVOLVED IN ACQUIRING THE  NECESSARY
 RIGHTS,   PERMITS,   AND   APPROVALS   OR  OTHERWISE  PLANNING  FOR  THE
 CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE FACILITY; AND (II)  AT  THE  TIME  THE
 FACILITY  IS  BEING  DEVELOPED, A PERSON WHO IS ACTING AS A DEVELOPER OF
 THE FACILITY BY ACQUIRING THE NECESSARY RIGHTS, PERMITS,  AND  APPROVALS
 OR  BY  PLANNING  FOR  THE  CONSTRUCTION  AND OPERATION OF THE FACILITY,
 REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PERSON WILL OWN OR OPERATE THE FACILITY;
   (C) "NON-PARTICIPATING PROPERTY" MEANS REAL PROPERTY  THAT  IS  NOT  A
 PARTICIPATING PROPERTY;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13087-03-5
 S. 8119--A                          2
              

 
   (D)  "AUTHORITY  HAVING  JURISDICTION" MEANS ANY MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
 WITH AUTHORIZATION TO ADOPT ZONING AND PERMITTING REGULATIONS  GOVERNING
 THE PLACEMENT, CONSTRUCTION, MODIFICATION AND/OR OPERATION OF A DISTRIB-
 UTED  GENERATION  ENERGY FACILITY WITHIN ITS BORDERS.  "AUTHORITY HAVING
 JURISDICTION"  SHALL  ALSO  INCLUDE  ANY AGENCY OF SAID MUNICIPAL CORPO-
 RATION WITH AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE LAND USE  APPROVALS  SUCH  AS,  INTER
 ALIA,  SITE  PLAN  APPROVALS,  SPECIAL  USE PERMITS, USE VARIANCES, AREA
 VARIANCES, AND SUBDIVISION AUTHORIZATIONS;
   (E) "NON-PARTICIPATING RESIDENCE" MEANS A RESIDENCE THAT IS LOCATED ON
 NON-PARTICIPATING PROPERTY AND THAT IS EXISTING AND OCCUPIED ON THE DATE
 THAT AN APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT TO DEVELOP THE  DISTRIBUTED  GENERATION
 ENERGY FACILITY IS FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION;
   (F) "OCCUPIED COMMUNITY BUILDING" MEANS ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOW-
 ING  EXISTING  BUILDINGS OCCUPIED ON THE DATE THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A
 PERMIT TO DEVELOP THE DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY  FACILITY  IS  FILED
 WITH  THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: A SCHOOL, PLACE OF WORSHIP, DAY
 CARE FACILITY, PUBLIC LIBRARY, OR COMMUNITY CENTER;
   (G) "PARTICIPATING PROPERTY" MEANS REAL PROPERTY THAT IS  THE  SUBJECT
 OF  A  WRITTEN  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN A FACILITY OWNER AND THE OWNER OF THE
 REAL PROPERTY THAT PROVIDES THE  FACILITY  OWNER  AN  EASEMENT,  OPTION,
 LEASE, OR LICENSE TO USE THE REAL PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCT-
 ING  AND/OR  OPERATING  A  DISTRIBUTED  GENERATION  ENERGY  FACILITY, OR
 SUPPORTING FACILITIES. "PARTICIPATING PROPERTY" ALSO INCLUDES REAL PROP-
 ERTY THAT IS OWNED BY A FACILITY OWNER FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A
 DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY, OR SUPPORTING FACILITIES;
   (H) "PARTICIPATING RESIDENCE" MEANS A RESIDENCE  THAT  IS  LOCATED  ON
 PARTICIPATING  PROPERTY  AND  THAT  IS EXISTING AND OCCUPIED ON THE DATE
 THAT AN APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT TO DEVELOP THE  DISTRIBUTED  GENERATION
 ENERGY FACILITY IS FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION;
   (I) "PROTECTED LANDS" MEANS REAL PROPERTY THAT IS:
   (I) SUBJECT TO A PERMANENT CONSERVATION RIGHT; OR
   (II)  REGISTERED  OR  DESIGNATED AS A NATURE PRESERVE, BUFFER, OR LAND
 AND WATER RESERVE; AND
   (J) "SUPPORTING FACILITIES" MEANS THE TRANSMISSION LINES, SUBSTATIONS,
 ACCESS ROADS, METEOROLOGICAL TOWERS, STORAGE CONTAINERS,  AND  EQUIPMENT
 ASSOCIATED  WITH  THE  GENERATION  AND  STORAGE  OF  ELECTRICITY  BY THE
 DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY.
   2. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, AN AUTHORITY HAVING
 JURISDICTION SHALL ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY
 FACILITIES. THE STANDARDS MAY INCLUDE ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS  SPECIFIED
 IN  THIS  SUBDIVISION  BUT  MAY NOT INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DISTRIBUTED
 GENERATION ENERGY FACILITIES THAT ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN SPECIFIED IN
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (B) ANY AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION THAT HAS  ELECTED  TO  ESTABLISH
 STANDARDS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING OR HEARINGS
 REGARDING  ANY  APPLICATION OR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED TO IT FOR LAND USE
 APPROVALS TO ALLOW A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY. THE  PUBLIC
 HEARING  OR  HEARINGS  SHALL  BE  HELD IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE OPEN
 MEETINGS LAW, ANY APPLICABLE PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENTS IN THE  MUNICI-
 PAL  CODE  OF  AUTHORITY  HAVING  JURISDICTION, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
 PROVISIONS OF LAW. SAID PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD WITHIN NINETY  DAYS
 AFTER THE FILING OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENER-
 GY FACILITY. THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION SHALL MAKE ITS SITING AND
 PERMITTING  DECISIONS  NOT MORE THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF
 THE PUBLIC HEARING OR HEARINGS.
 S. 8119--A                          3
 
   (C) ANY AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION THAT RENDERS A  SITING,  PERMIT-
 TING,  VARIANCE,  OR  OTHER  LAND  USE  DECISION REGARDING A DISTRIBUTED
 GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY SHALL APPLY THE  "PUBLIC  UTILITY"  STANDARDS
 FOR SUCH APPROVALS AS SET FORTH IN CONSOLIDATED EDISON CO. V HOFFMAN, 43
 N.Y.2D 598 (1978) AND MATTER OF CELLULAR TEL. CO. V ROSENBERG, 82 N.Y.2D
 364 (1993) AND AS SUBSEQUENTLY EXPANDED AND APPLIED BY THE COURTS OF THE
 STATE OF NEW YORK.
   (D) AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION WITH AN EXISTING ZONING ORDINANCE
 IN  CONFLICT  WITH THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL AMEND SUCH ZONING ORDINANCE TO
 BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBDIVISION WITHIN ONE  HUNDRED  TWENTY  DAYS
 AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   (E) (I) AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY REQUIRE:
   (1)  A  DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY TO BE SITED AS FOLLOWS,
 WITH SETBACK DISTANCES MEASURED FROM THE NEAREST EDGE OF  ANY  COMPONENT
 OF THE FACILITY:
 
  SETBACK DESCRIPTION                SETBACK DISTANCE

  OCCUPIED COMMUNITY                 150 FEET FROM THE NEAREST
  BUILDINGS AND DWELLINGS            POINT ON THE OUTSIDE WALL
  ON NON-PARTICIPATING               OF THE STRUCTURE
  PROPERTIES
 
  BOUNDARY LINES OF                  NONE
  PARTICIPATING PROPERTY
 
  PUBLIC ROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY          50 FEET FROM THE
                                     NEAREST EDGE
 
  BOUNDARY LINES OF NON-             50 FEET TO THE NEAREST POINT
  PARTICIPATING PROPERTY             ON THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE
                                     NON-PARTICIPATING PROPERTY

  FEDERAL JURISDICTIONAL             SHALL BE NO MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN
  WETLANDS                           UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF
                                     ENGINEERS' MOST CURRENT RULES
 
  NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT          SHALL BE NO MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN
  OF ENVIRONMENTAL                   NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF
  CONSERVATION WETLANDS              ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION'S
                                     MOST CURRENT RULES
 
   (2)  A  DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY TO BE SITED SO THAT THE
 FACILITY'S PERIMETER IS ENCLOSED BY FENCING HAVING A HEIGHT OF AT  LEAST
 SEVEN FEET AND NO MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE FEET; AND
   (3)  A  DISTRIBUTED  GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY TO BE SITED SO THAT NO
 COMPONENT OF A SOLAR PANEL HAS A HEIGHT OF MORE THAN TWENTY  FEET  ABOVE
 GROUND WHEN THE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY'S ARRAYS ARE AT FULL TILT.
   (II)  AN  AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY NOT SET A SOUND LIMITATION
 FOR ANY COMPONENTS IN A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY  THAT  IS
 MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE SOUND LIMITATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY
 HAVING JURISDICTION FOR ANY OTHER USE OR ACTIVITY.
   (III)  AN  AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY NOT PLACE ANY RESTRICTION
 ON THE INSTALLATION OR USE OF A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION  ENERGY  FACILITY
 UNLESS  IT  ADOPTS  AN ORDINANCE THAT COMPLIES WITH THIS SUBDIVISION. AN
 AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY NOT  ESTABLISH  SITING  STANDARDS  FOR
 S. 8119--A                          4
 
 SUPPORTING  FACILITIES  THAT  PRECLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRIBUTED GENER-
 ATION ENERGY FACILITIES. A REQUEST FILED WITH AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURIS-
 DICTION TO LOCATE OR MODIFY ANY  PERMIT  FOR  A  DISTRIBUTED  GENERATION
 ENERGY  FACILITY, SHALL BE APPROVED IF THE REQUEST IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH
 THE STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS IMPOSED IN THIS SECTION, THE  ZONING  ORDI-
 NANCE  ADOPTED  CONSISTENT WITH THIS SECTION, AND THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED
 UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS.
   (IV) AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY NOT ADOPT ZONING REGULATIONS
 THAT LIMIT, PERMANENTLY OR TEMPORARILY, THE NUMBER OF DISTRIBUTED GENER-
 ATION ENERGY FACILITIES FROM BEING DEVELOPED OR OPERATED IN ANY DISTRICT
 ZONED TO ALLOW AGRICULTURAL OR INDUSTRIAL USES.
   (V) AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY NOT REQUIRE  PERMIT  APPLICA-
 TION OR OTHER FEES FOR A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY THAT ARE
 UNREASONABLE.  ALL  APPLICATION  FEES  IMPOSED  BY  THE AUTHORITY HAVING
 JURISDICTION SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH FEES FOR PROJECTS IN THE AUTHORITY
 HAVING JURISDICTION WITH SIMILAR CAPITAL VALUE AND COST.
   (VI) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS  SUBDIVISION,  AN  AUTHORITY
 HAVING JURISDICTION SHALL NOT REQUIRE STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, DECOM-
 MISSIONING, OR DECONSTRUCTION OF A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILI-
 TY  OR  RELATED  FINANCIAL  ASSURANCES THAT ARE UNREASONABLE OR PRECLUDE
 DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITIES. THE  AMOUNT  OF
 ANY  DECOMMISSIONING  PAYMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE COST IDENTIFIED IN
 THE DECOMMISSIONING OR DECONSTRUCTION PLAN MINUS THE  SALVAGE  VALUE  OF
 THE  PROJECT.  DECOMMISSIONING VALUES SHOULD BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS
 FOR THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS OF OPERATION AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER.
   (VII) AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY NOT CONDITION APPROVAL OF A
 DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY ON A  PROPERTY  VALUE  GUARANTEE,
 MAY  NOT  REQUIRE  A  FACILITY  OWNER TO PAY INTO A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY
 DEVALUATION ESCROW ACCOUNT,  AND  MAY  NOT  CONDITION  APPROVAL  ON  THE
 PROJECT  ENTERING INTO A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILOT) AGREEMENT OR A
 COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT.
   (VIII) AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION MAY REQUIRE REASONABLE VEGETA-
 TIVE SCREENING SURROUNDING A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY  BUT
 MAY NOT REQUIRE EARTHEN BERMS OR SIMILAR STRUCTURES.
   (IX) AN AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION SHALL CALCULATE LOT COVERAGE FOR
 DISTRIBUTED  GENERATION  ENERGY  FACILITIES BASED ONLY ON THE IMPERVIOUS
 SURFACES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACILITY. IMPERVIOUS SURFACES  INCLUDE  THE
 FOUNDATIONS  OF  SOLAR  PANELS,  ACCESS  ROADS,  AND OTHER STRUCTURES OR
 INSTALLATIONS THAT PREVENT THE INFILTRATION OF WATER  INTO  THE  GROUND.
 SOLAR  PANELS THEMSELVES SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED IMPERVIOUS SURFACES FOR
 THE PURPOSES OF LOT  COVERAGE  CALCULATION,  PROVIDED  THAT  THE  GROUND
 BENEATH THE PANELS REMAINS PERVIOUS AND CAPABLE OF ABSORBING WATER.
   3.  DEVELOPERS OF A DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITY SHALL OFFER
 RESIDENTS OF THE HOST COMMUNITY THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO  SUBSCRIBE
 TO  AND  RECEIVE  UTILITY BILL CREDITS FROM SUCH PROJECT AT A DISCOUNTED
 RATE. THIS RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL SHALL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE  FIRST  TWO
 MONTHS AFTER SUBSCRIPTIONS BECOME AVAILABLE, AND SHALL BE OFFERED IN ALL
 CASES  WHERE  IT  DOES  NOT CONFLICT WITH THE PROGRAM RULES OR OPERATING
 PROCEDURES OF UTILITY- FEDERAL- OR STATE-ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS TO DELIV-
 ER UTILITY BILL SAVINGS TO LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME  ELECTRICITY  CUSTOM-
 ERS.
   4.  (A)  WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE
 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SHALL  DEVELOP  AND  PROMULGATE
 RULES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SITING, CONSTRUCTION,
 AND  OPERATION  OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITIES ON AND ADJA-
 CENT TO WETLANDS.
 S. 8119--A                          5
 
   (B) SUCH RULES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH AND NO
 MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY  THE  UNITED  STATES
 ARMY  CORPS  OF  ENGINEERS  FOR  RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ON AND AROUND
 WETLANDS IN NATIONWIDE PERMIT 51 - LAND-BASED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  GENER-
 ATION  FACILITIES.  THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, CONSIDERATIONS
 FOR WETLAND DELINEATION, IMPACT MINIMIZATION, MITIGATION  MEASURES,  AND
 MONITORING REQUIREMENTS.
   (C) THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SHALL ENSURE THAT THE
 RULES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE ON THE FOLLOWING:
   (I) PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING NECESSARY PERMITS FOR SOLAR INSTALLATIONS
 ON AND ADJACENT TO WETLANDS;
   (II) STANDARDS FOR MINIMIZING ADVERSE IMPACTS ON WETLAND FUNCTIONS AND
 VALUES; AND
   (III)  REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPENSATORY MITIGATION TO OFFSET ANY UNAVOID-
 ABLE IMPACTS TO WETLANDS.
   (D) THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION  SHALL  CONSULT  WITH
 RELEVANT  FEDERAL,  STATE,  AND LOCAL AGENCIES, AS WELL AS STAKEHOLDERS,
 INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRY,  TO
 ENSURE  THAT  THE  RULES  AND  PERMIT REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPREHENSIVE AND
 PRACTICABLE.
   (E) THE DEPARTMENT OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  SHALL  REVIEW  AND
 UPDATE  THESE  RULES  AND  PERMIT  REQUIREMENTS  PERIODICALLY TO REFLECT
 ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY,  CHANGES  IN  FEDERAL  GUIDELINES,  AND  NEW
 SCIENTIFIC  INFORMATION  REGARDING WETLAND CONSERVATION AND SOLAR ENERGY
 DEVELOPMENT.
   5. (A) AUTHORITIES HAVING JURISDICTION WITH  EXISTING  SOLAR  LAWS  IN
 COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION MAY NOT ENACT MORATORIA PREVENTING DISTRIB-
 UTED GENERATION ENERGY FACILITIES.
   (B)  AUTHORITIES  HAVING  JURISDICTION  WITHOUT EXISTING SOLAR LAWS IN
 COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION MAY ENACT A SINGLE MORATORIUM IN  ORDER  TO
 DEVELOP  SUCH A LAW. THE INITIAL MORATORIUM SHALL NOT EXCEED SIX MONTHS.
 AUTHORITIES MAY EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ONCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD  NOT
 TO EXCEED SIX MONTHS. NO FURTHER RENEWALS OR EXTENSIONS SHALL BE PERMIT-
 TED.  AUTHORITIES HAVING JURISDICTION MAY SEEK TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM
 THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY  TO  ENSURE
 COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
   6.  (A)  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE  SHALL  ENFORCE THIS SECTION. SUCH
 DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL  LOCAL  LAWS  AND
 REGULATIONS COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   (B)  (I)  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE SHALL REVIEW LOCAL LAWS AND REGU-
 LATIONS RELATED TO THE SITING AND PERMITTING OF  DISTRIBUTED  GENERATION
 ENERGY FACILITIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
   (II)  BEGINNING  ONE  HUNDRED  TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
 THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF  STATE  MAY  REQUIRE  MUNICIPALITIES  TO
 SUBMIT THEIR LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. MUNICI-
 PALITIES  SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DEPARTMENT WITH ANY REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION
 WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF SUCH A REQUEST.
   (C) THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SHALL HAVE  THE  AUTHORITY  TO  PROMULGATE
 REGULATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SECTION. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL BE ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE  STATE
 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.